§ 49-6-4101. Short Title

This part shall be known and may be cited as the “School Discipline Act.”

§ 49-6-4102. Students Accountable for Conduct

Every teacher is authorized to hold every pupil strictly accountable for any disorderly conduct in school or on the playground of the school, during intermission or recess period or on any school bus going to or returning from school. Every school bus driver is authorized to hold every pupil strictly accountable for any disorderly conduct […]

§ 49-6-4103. Corporal Punishment

Any teacher or school principal may use corporal punishment in a reasonable manner against any pupil for good cause in order to maintain discipline and order within the public schools. Notwithstanding subsection (a), teachers, school principals, or other school personnel are prohibited from using corporal punishment against any student who has a disability, unless an […]

§ 49-6-4104. Rules and Regulations

Each local board of education shall adopt rules and regulations it deems necessary to implement and control any form of corporal punishment in the schools in its district.

§ 49-6-4105. Arrest and Prosecution for Injury to Student

No action taken by a teacher or principal pursuant to this part shall be grounds for the issuance of an arrest warrant or for the pressing of criminal charges against the teacher or principal, unless a report of an investigation by appropriate law enforcement officials along with independent medical verification of injury is presented to […]

§ 49-6-4106. Disciplinary Referrals

When a member of a school’s faculty or staff disciplines a student by issuing a written referral for the student’s behavior, the referral shall be returned to the member of the faculty or staff with a notation of the action taken. The referral shall be kept in a student discipline file and shall not become […]

§ 49-6-4107. Use of Reasonable Force

A teacher, principal, school employee or school bus driver, in exercising the person’s lawful authority, may use reasonable force when necessary under the circumstances to correct or restrain a student or prevent bodily harm or death to another person. Subsection (a) does not authorize use of corporal punishment by a person not permitted to administer […]

§ 49-6-4108. Report Detailing Use of Corporal Punishment Required

Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, each LEA shall submit, at least annually, a report to the department of education detailing the LEA’s use of corporal punishment. The report shall include, at a minimum: The school at which each instance of corporal punishment occurred; Information regarding the reason for each instance of corporal punishment; Whether […]

§ 49-6-4109. Trauma-Informed Discipline Policy

As a strategy to address adverse childhood experiences, as defined in § 49-1-230, each LEA and public charter school shall adopt a trauma-informed discipline policy. Each trauma-informed discipline policy must: Balance accountability with an understanding of traumatic behavior; Teach school and classroom rules while reinforcing that violent or abusive behavior is not allowed at school; […]